Therapeutic bed pan

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing bed sores having a bed pan and a foam pad. The foam pad normally rests upon the top of a bed mattress and has a central portion cut away to matingly receive the bed pan. The bed pan has a bottom wall with vertical walls extending upwardly around the periphery of the bottom wall. Outwardly extending lips are formed around the periphery of the vertical walls and these seat into a recess around the top of the opening so that they lie flush with the top of the foam pad. A plurality of laterally spaced hollow platforms extend upwardly from the bottom wall with the space between the platforms forming drain channels. An air intake nozzle is connected to one of the vertical walls of the bed pan and it in turn is connected to a source of air and oxygen under pressure whose mixture can be controlled. A drain nozzle is also connected to one of the sides of the bed pan adjacent the bottom thereof and it in turn is connected to a vacuum exhaust pump. A perforated cover is removably supported on top of the bed pan.

United States Patent [191 Freeman Sept. 11, 1973 THERAPEUTIC BED PANPrimary Examiner-Henry K. Artis [76] Inventor: Harry Freeman, HalliwellDr., Atmmey Herben Barlow et Slatersville, R.I. 02876 221 Filed: July13, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A device for preventin bed sores havin a bed anand [21 1 Appl' 27l290 a foam pad. The foam pad normally re s upon thetop of a bed mattress and has a central portion cut away to [52] US. Cl4/112, 4/113, 5/91, matingly receive the bed pan. The bed pan has a bot-5/348 tom wall with vertical walls extending upwardly around [51 int. ClA6lg 9/00 the periphery of the bottom wall. Outwardly extending [58]Field of Search 4/1, 112, 113, 110, lips are formed around the peripheryof the vertical 4/1 l l, 115, 142; 5/91, 347, 348; 128/33 walls andthese seat'into a recess around the top of the opening so that they lieflush with the top of the foam [56] References Cited pad. A plurality oflaterally spaced hollow platforms ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS tendupwardly from the bottom wall with the space be- 1 377 683 5/1921 Henes5 91 twee the Platforms forming drain channels air |:769:482 7/1930Alkuttm 4 take nozzle is connected to one of the vertical walls of1,970,754 8/1934 Jonasen 5/91 the bed pan and it in turn is connected toa source of 2 5 7 30 9 195 Timian 4 1 3 air and oxygen under pressurewhose mixture can be 3,599,249 8/1971 Reed 4/112 controlled. A drainnozzle is also connected to one of 3,653,083 4/1972 Lapidus 5/347 X thesides of the bed pan adjacent the bottom thereof 3,7l3J78 V1973Malleflem 12 and it in turn is connected to a vacuum exhaust pump.3,719,962 3/1973 Burkley 5 91 A perforated cover is removably supportedon top of the bed pan.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP] 1 I975 'OOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOO0000000000 OOOOgjOOOOO 0000 00000 OOOOOOOOOOO FIG.3

FIG.4

THERAPEUTIC BED PAN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a combination bed pan and foam pad unit to be used on beds beingutilized by invalid patients and the like. In the past in nursing homes,hospitals, or in private homes where invalid patients with certaindiseases and afilictions are bedridden, a problem arises from bed soreswhich these patients de velop. These bed sores or decubitus ulcersresult from a loss of blood circulation caused by pressure on the skinparticularly pressure over a bony protuberance. The pressure on areas ofsupport exceeds the mean capillary blood pressure and these areas arevulnerable to the decubitus ulcers. Other factors which contribute todecubitus ulcers are lack of proper ventilation, moisture and diet.Other problems in the past have resulted from body odors created by thepatient due to poor or improper ventilation beneath the patient.Additionally the problem of bed wetting and the accumulation of theurine in the bed contribute both to the offensive odor and also to thebed sores of the patient since the moisture remains in the area of thepatients body. I

Attempts have been made to remedy these conditions and prevent thedecubitus ulcers but these have been unsuccessful. Some have involvedmerely the passing of air through the bed mattress which air is thenallowed to pass upwardly around the patients body. Here the problem ofurine accumulation, however, has

not been dealthwith and thus there is no provision for its disposal.Other devices have had pulsatingly inflatable air mattresses which againmerely allow the air to be circulated upwardly around the body of thepatient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 7 Applicants novel device for preventing bedsores acts as a complete system to remove from the area of the bedriddenpatient any urine accumulation and also provide a proper air-oxygenmixture environment sur-- whose central portion is cut out to receivethe bed pan member is first positioned'on the bed. The bed pan is nextpositioned in the cutoutportion of the pad. It has a bottom wall withvertical walls extending upwardly around the periphery 'of the bottomwallwith outwardly extending lips around the .periphe'ryof'the verticalwalls. These outwardly extending lips have their top surface seatingflush withthe top of the foam pad. A

plurality of laterally spaced hollow platforms extend upwardly from thebottomwall ,with the spaces between the platforms forming drain channelswhere any urine or other moisture beneath the patient may beaccumulated. A drain nozzle formed on one side of the bed pan isconnected to a tube having a vacuum exhaust pump attached thereto. Inthis manner any accumulation of moisture or liquid in the drain channelsis automatically sucked out from the area below the patient. Also formedon the bed pan is an air intake nozzle that connects a tube from asource of air and oxygen that is supplied to the bed pan. A unitinserted in this tube may be utilized to vary the mixture of air andoxygen. A perforated cover of plastic is removably placed on top the bedpan with the perforations accomplishing the double purpose-of allowingmoisture and liquid to drain downwardly therethrough and also allow theair which is being pumped into the bed pan to rise upwardly around thebody of the patient.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of applicantstherapeutic bed pan unit;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view illustrating the bed pan;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawingsapplicants novel device is shown utilized with a normal hospital bedgenerally designated numeral 10. It has a regular headboard 12, afootboard l4 and connecting cross rails 16. A'mattress 18 is supportedthereon. Atop the mattress is a pad 20 made from a foamed plasticmaterial such as polyethylene. e

The foam pad 20 may be formed from an integral sheet having a cutoutsection 22 in its central portion that matingly receives bed pan 30 oralternatively the pad may be made from components that are seam weldedas illustrated along lines 24 and have a cutout section formed inthecenter. The area adjacent the top surface of cutout section 22 has arecess 25 formed therein so that lip 32 of the bed pan will have its topsurface seated flush with the top of foam pad-20.

Bed pan 30 and its structure are best understood by referring to FIGS. 2thru 4 which illustrate that it has a bottom wall 34 with vertical walls30 extending upwardly around the bottom wall. Also a plurality oflaterally spaced hollow platforms 38 extend upwardly from said bottomwall with the space between the platforms forming drain channels 40.These platforms are normally flexible so that they have a cushioningeffect on the underside of the patient. The number and the shape ofthese platforms may be varied according to the'amount of weight to besupported by the platforms and also according to manufacturingconsiderations.

Attached to one ofthe side .walls is an air intake inozzle.

or port 42to which tube 44 is -attached. The opposite end of tube 44 isconnected to an air and oxygen mixer 46 which can control theproportionsof pressurized oxygen and air to be released into the bed pan. Formed onone of the other vertical walls of the bed pan'is the liquid drainnozzle orlport 48 adjacent'thebottom of the bed pan. Tube 50 isconnected to this nozzle with its opposite end being connected to vacuumexhaust 1 a therapeutic effect. The bed pan and the perforated 1.A-therapeutic bed pan unit comprising a bed pan having a bottom wallwith vertical walls extending upwardly from around the periphery of saidbottom wall, a plurality of laterally spaced platforms extendingupwardly from said bottom wall with the spaces between the platformsforming drain channels, a drain nozzle connected to a vertical wall ofsaid bed pan, to exhaust any liquid that accumulates in the bottom ofsaid bed pan, an air intake nozzle connected to one side of said bed panto supply the interior of said bed pan with air.

2. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 1 further comprisingexhaust pump means connected to said drain nozzle.

3. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 1 further comprisingcompressed air means connected to said air intake nozzle.

4. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 3 wherein saidcompressed air means comprises an air and oxygen mixer.

5. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said bed panis molded in an integral piece.

6. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 5 wherein saidplatforms are hollow.

7. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said bed panhas an outwardly extending lip around the periphery of the verticalwalls.

8. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said bed panis made of plastic material.

9. A therapuetic bed pan unit as recited in claim 6 further comprising aperforated cover.

10. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 1 further comprisinga pad having a cutout section in its central portion that receives saidbed pan and which would normally be set upon the top of a bed mattress.II! I!

1. A therapeutic bed pan unit comprising a bed pan having a bottom wallwith vertical walls extending upwardly from around the periphery of saidbottom wall, a plurality of laterally spaced platforms extendingupwardly from said bottom wall with the spaces between the platformsforming drain channels, a drain nozzle connected to a vertical wall ofsaid bed pan, to exhaust any liquid that accumulates in the bottom ofsaid bed pan, an air intake nozzle connected to one side of said bed panto supply the interior of said bed pan with air.
 2. A therapeutic bedpan unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising exhaust pump meansconnected to said drain nozzle.
 3. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recitedin claim 1 further comprising compressed air means connected to said airintake nozzle.
 4. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 3wherein said compressed air means comprises an air and oxygen mixer. 5.A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said bed pan ismolded in an integral piece.
 6. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recited inclaim 5 wherein said platforms are hollow.
 7. A therapeutic bed pan unitas recited in claim 6 wherein said bed pan has an outwardly extendinglip around the periphery of the vertical walls.
 8. A therapeutic bed panunit as recited in claim 6 wherein said bed pan is made of plasticmaterial.
 9. A therapuetic bed pan unit as recited in claim 6 furthercomprising a perforated cover.
 10. A therapeutic bed pan unit as recitedin claim 1 further comprising a pad having a cutout section in itscentral portion that receives said bed pan and which would normally beset upon the top of a bed mattress.